Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-01
CHAT ABOUT A SINGER.
p. T. eARNUM'S REcoLLecTIONS OF
THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE"

Jenny Lind's Kindness of Heart Illus
trated-Her Daughters Voice-Teseh-
ing the Great Snowman Lesson.
Profits of Her American Trip.
P. 7. Barnum, who is spending few weeks
in the city, gave q reporter some interesting
"reminiscences of Jenny Lind few days ago.
MY autobiography said the veteran show
man, ''gives nearly all that | can say about
Jenny Lind. Her natural impulses were
most noble and good. l never met a person
50 susceptible to the wants, needs or suffer-
ings of others l could at any time make her
tears flow by relating some case of want, and
her dollars would Cow freely with her tears.
She could not bear the thought Of passing by
on the other side when she could relieve the
sorrow of any being, however humble"
Mr. Barnum told touching story of an
incident that occurred when Jenny was sing
ing in Boston. "a poor working girl he
said, ''thurst s. into the hands of the ticket
seller at the Boston Temple for back seat
at Jenny's concert. On receiving the ticket
she said: There goes my wages for one
week, but must hear that good angel sing ,
Jennys secretary, her cousin, Max Hjortz-
berg, heard the remark and Immediately
went to the greenrooln and laughingly told
it to Jenny. | shall never forget how she
jumped to her feet and exclaimed: 'Oh, this
must not bel Poor girl, she shall not lose
her money! 1t is wickedl Max, take this
money-handing him a twenty dollar gold
piece-'search out that dear creature and put
it in her hands, with my love. God bless
herr Cousin Max found the girl, gave her
the money and message, and witnessed a
flood of grateful tears from the working
girls eyes. Ii she Is alive today she Will re-
member it.
HER KINDEST REGARDS
When l was struggling against the
Jerome clock debts, in 1885," Mr. Barnum
| went on, IL took my wife and children to
| London. One day Jenny's husband, Otto
| Goldsmith, called on me and said: Mrs.
| Lind, hearing or yonr financial misfortune
| desired me to call on you and say if few
hundred pounds, or thousand, will serve te
to you with her kindest regards We are now
living in Dresden, and my wife says if YOU
will take your family there she will gladly
find you nice apartments at low rent, ant
we shall both be glad to render you any ser
vice we can The kind offer was declined
with thanks, but it shows the charitabl,
character of this almost angelic woman.
.'She has two children, the elder a son. TIL,
daughter has voice which Sir Julius Bene
dict told me he believed if cultivated woult
prove equal to her mothers But h
added, her parents are rich, and have no am
bition to have her attain musical renown
| which would involve such arduous study an,
practice
"Her share of profits in our musical cam
| paign, in 1850 and 1851, was sos, $500. Sh
sang in ninety three concerts She wa
worth over S1,000,000 when she left tn
United States in 1851, and this sum has bee
increased by occasional concerts in Grea
Britain, and by the judicious investments G
her husband.
Kind and lady like as Jenny Lind wa.
she had horror of meeting strangers, and
will tell you this story, though it is agains
myself During tine first few weeks of ou
engagement | introduced to her numbers
; ladies and gentlemen who desired to see he
She frequently intimated to me that it W,
dspleasing to her, but l was anxious I
crafty the people who SO persistently sougs
All introduction.
| INTRODUCING A STRANGER
. Zone morning at the Continental hotel
Philadelphia, an esteemed lady friend callt
on me and asked for an Introduction to Il
Swedish Nightingale l told her how gla
| would I've to crafty her, but these introdu
tions Of strangers were very annoying
Miss Lind and that really dreaded to go al
ask her permission. oh, do please do so ju
his once, for am dying to speak to hel
urged my friend, and at last | reluctant
consented to ask her permission
Miss Lind said, Il know you dislike
have me introduce strangers simply becau
they are friends of mine, and | refuse maj
such requests daily, but particular Lac
friend of my family is waiting in the rece
i ton room, very anxious to speak few wor
= with you
Jenny surprised me by saying with
pleasant SMILE Dear Mr.. Barnum, how C,
|! l refuse you anythings Bring up your lar
friend immediately, by all means
Il FASTENED down stairs, brought mp {
lady. and was delighted to introduce HI
y Jenny bowed and received her gracOusl
!, then pointed to a chair and they both We
h seated. Jennys face at once assumed sob
e aspect a. she said: Madam do not knt
i what tc say to You; We rre perfect strange
ia You have come only to crafty AL idle Gu
i, usity, what can / sayn
K 81 was shocked to hear this, and t. see n
friend turn as red rs scarlet when she tri
to make some excuse. oh, do not apologize
said Jenny; 1 do not blame You half
much as / do Mr.. Barnum l have warn
him often, and how | am compelled to gi
9 him this severe lesson, which / am det,
't mined he shall never forget
at is needless to say that ! never did f.
get it, nor, seeing the justice of Jenhys pu
=, ton, did ever repeat the offense."
How long has it been since Jenny Ii
gave any concertsF was asked.
b Il think it must he ten or fifteen year
Mr. Barnum replied, ''She gave many
charities in England that were never kno,
to the public The tickets were sold private
"a always at guinea each, and the hall v
1d always filed. During the last year that
sang, all her concerts were for the benefit
poor clergymen New York Tribune.
l